Oceano Dunes Accident Costs Sacramento Teen His Life
A Sacramento teen lost his life on July 13 at Oceano Dunes as he followed another person on a vehicle over a 30-foot tall sand dune and was thrown from his motorcycle. The 18-year-old was the sixth fatality at the popular off-road recreation site this year. Following a meeting by the Coastal Commission, it was decided that restricting the use of off-road vehicles at the site would be tabled and taken up next year sometime before summer. It was reported that hundreds of people turned out for the Oceano Dunes meeting to indicate their support for the popular outdoor sport. I want to extend my heartfelt sympathy to the family and friends of this young man for their tragic loss.
Accident Details
A State Parks representative reported that the accident happened around 3:20 in the afternoon near competition hill when the rider suffered traumatic injuries after being separated from his bike. Lifeguards and rangers discovered that the young man had no pulse and was unconscious. Although CPR was performed for around 20 minutes, he was declared dead at around 4:00 p.m. when an ambulance arrived upon the scene. It was stated that the motorcycle had a flag and whip, and the young man was wearing a helmet at the time. Neither drugs nor alcohol appear to have contributed to the accident. A man from Arizona died on July 11 this year at Oceano Dunes after suffering a similar accident.
Oceano Dunes and Off-Highway Motor Vehicle (OHV) Deaths
Oceano Dunes comes under the jurisdiction of the California Department of Parks and Recreation. The area there has been used since early in the 1900s as a place where people have driven all types of OHV vehicles, including motorcycles and sand cars. However, it is also an area where fatalities are not uncommon. Since 1992, there have been at least 43 fatalities of those riding off-road vehicles. That number is of fatalities only and does not include those who suffered serious injuries or died in other ways such as drowning. Weekends are especially dangerous, and speeding, along with drunk driving and ejection from a vehicle, are common causes of deaths in this area. Other fatalities have occurred when someone on foot was struck by a motor vehicle.
The Necessity of an Immediate Investigation
When someone is killed in a recreational accident, it is critical that an investigation begins as soon as possible. It is important for our investigative team to go to the site of the crash to have a clear view of what happened. Reports made at the scene by rescue teams who oversee activities may be in error as they fight to save someone’s life. With a variety of possible reasons, we make sure that reports are correct. When there are numerous accidents at a facility, the first question that comes to mind is why are they happening? We do everything in our power to answer that question. If a reason is found that relates to negligence, the owner/operator or government agency in charge will be held liable.
Placing a Wrongful Death Claim
The family of someone killed at a recreational facility may be able to place a wrongful death claim for the recovery of damages due to the loss of a loved one. In a case where a young person is lost, they may be able to claim funeral and burial expenses, along with the pain and suffering their loss has caused. An experienced personal injury lawyer can explain what options are available and answer your questions.
Reasons Multiple Deaths Occur at a Recreational Area
Some of the reasons multiple accidents and deaths occur at a recreational facility are often due to negligence. For instance, the motorcycle or its tires may have been defective, causing the accident. Something buried in the sand might have punctured a tire, leading to a crash. Another rider may have contributed to the accident. In other cases, there may have been inadequate warnings by the government agency in charge as to the danger of particular areas. In the case of a 30-foot sand dune, a lack of warning signs might have given the rider a false sense of security. We believe that it is important for investigators to visit the site and determine whether negligence is involved. If it was, a claim should be filed against the at-fault party to make sure it does not happen again. Additionally, a family can pursue damages against the at-fault person or entity. The statute of limitations for a personal injury claim is two years from the date of the accident. If filing a claim against a government entity, that deadline to file is drastically reduced to only six months or 180 days. Be sure to contact an attorney to protect the statute and other filing deadlines.
Sacramento Wrongful Death Lawyer
I’m Ed Smith, a Sacramento wrongful death lawyer. The last thing a family expects when they are out together having fun is to lose a loved one in a tragic accident. If that accident was caused by negligence, they may be able to recover compensation. For my free and friendly advice, call me at (916) 921-6400 or at my toll-free line at (800) 404-5400. I also offer a contact form online, which some prefer.
I’ve helped numerous residents of Sacramento in a variety of cases to obtain the compensation they deserve. Aside from wrongful death cases, this includes all varieties of car accidents, motorcycle accidents, product liability, and traumatic injuries.
I am a proud member of the following organizations:
To learn about my practice, please visit the following pages:
Photo Attribution: https://www.pexels.com/search/sand%20dunes/
:cd llo [cs 901] bw